Certification Process for Magnet Operators

On this page, you can get information about

• Certification Policies
• Course Content
• Recommended Reading

Please select one of the links or just scroll down the page.

Certification Policies

The purpose of the self-directed certified operator (CO) training program is to provide the structure and support necessary to achieve the high level of competency required for scanning of human subjects. The training is oriented toward research scanning only, and will not prepare anybody for clinical imaging. The certification course teaches the safe and correct operation of all CABI systems (Siemens 1.5 Tesla, SMIS 3.0 Tesla, and SMIS 7.0 Tesla systems) but the certification is separate for the individual imagers. It is intended only for CABI personnel, other investigators must use CABI certified operators.

Enrollment in the course is limited to individuals who meet all of the following criteria:

1. A suitable background for the course.
2. A minimum of 4 hours a week for at least 6 month is committed to an approved ongoing or pending project within the CABI and the project cannot use any other CABI COs.
3. An approval is obtained from both the CO course director and the MR physicist responsible for the system to be used. They will have to commit to monitoring the enrollee's progress.

To receive the CO status for CABI systems, the following requirements must be successfully fulfilled:

1. Complete the required self-directed reading and written test.
2. Read the CABI safety manual, and the associated addenda.
3. Log at least 6 hours of scanning of phantoms for Siemens certification or 12 hours for SMIS certification under the supervision of a designated CO and accomplish the practical assignment. Scanner time for phantom scanning can be scheduled only after the safety section of the written test has been successfully completed.
4. After finishing the above 3 requirements, spend at least 6 hours on the Siemens system or 12 hours on the SMIS system scanning subjects under the direct supervision of a designated CO with extensive experience. The importance of safe conduct in this stage cannot be overemphasized! The technical issues should be sufficiently mastered before tackling this task.
5. Pass the final review by the CO course director and the CABI section leader for imaging. The review exam will consist of a complete scan procedure of a human or animal subject by discussion of reasoning behind the candidate's selection of various scan parameters aimed at achieving the desired contrast weighting and signal to noise ratio without any danger to the subject or the equipment. Safe conduct will be of paramount importance in this final CO review.

The certification can be withdrawn for any CO violating the CABI magnet usage policies, including (but not limited to) use of CABI systems for an unauthorized protocol or procedure, unsafe use of the system, failure to report any unsafe condition or conduct to CABI safety officer, or permitting access to unauthorized personnel. The certification will be also revoked automatically if the CO does not operate the system on a regular basis for an extended period of time (longer than 12 month). Depending on the circumstances, it may be possible to regain the certification in these cases by repeating only a subset of the 5 requirements above but at least the final CO review exam (point 5) will have to be retaken.

Should you have any questions about the certification process, please contact Dr. Jan Hrabe (tel. 845-398-5471) who is responsible for CO training and certifications and also manages the Siemens 1.5 Tesla system. Dr. David Guilfoyle manages the SMIS 3.0 Tesla system and is the CABI imaging section leader, and Dr. Craig Branch is in charge of the SMIS 7.0 Tesla system.

Course Content

1. Theoretical part (concluded by a written test)
   • Safety policy and procedures in MR environment
   • Basic MR physics
   • MR instrumentation
   • Principles of spatial localization
   • Basic imaging sequences
   • Image quality (SNR, artifacts)
   • Data transfer and storage
2. Phantom scanning (supervised by designated CABI CO)
   • Getting acquainted the Siemens or SMIS system
   • Subject registration (Siemens 1.5T and SMIS 3T only)
   • RF coil tuning and matching (SMIS 7T only)
   • Shimming (both automatic and manual)
   • HW Adjustment (transmitter frequency and gain, receiver gain, flip angle calibration, ...)
   • Pilot scan
   • Multi-slice spin echo acquisition
   • Detailed anatomical 3D acquisition (e.g., MP-RAGE)
   • EPI acquisition, BOLD scan with magnet triggering (Siemens 1.5T and SMIS 3T only)
   • Image reconstruction (SMIS systems only)
   • Image artefacts and SNR assessment, changing sequence parameters to influence SNR and resolution
   • Image data transfer to AFS space
   • Demonstration of proper emergency procedures
3. Subject scanning (directly supervised by designated and highly experienced CABI CO)
   • Conducting subject interview (human scanning only) and handling of all the necessary forms before and after the scan
   • Using the metal detector (Siemens 1.5T and SMIS 3T only)
   • Administering the pregnancy test (SMIS 3T system only)
   • Performing scans similar to those trained previously on the phantom, sequence choice and parameter manipulation to achieve good T1, T2, PD, or BOLD contrast
   • Image artefacts and SNR assessment, sequence parameter manipulation to influence them
   • Image data transfer to the AFS space, JAZ disk, or a CD-ROM
   • Demonstration of correct emergency situation handling

Recommended Reading

1. Required
   • Moriel NessAiver: All you really need to know about MRI physics (chapters 6-9 are optional)
   • CABI Safety Manual with all addenda
   • Scanning Standard Operating Procedures with Human Subjects (important for getting all the paperwork right)
   • SMIS tutorial (both for SMIS 3T and 7T systems)
   • Siemens 1.5 Tesla Standard Operating Procedure for fMRI Scans (for Siemens system only)
   • Data Handling on CABI MR Systems (CABI handout)
   • Practical Assignments (for both SMIS and Siemens)
2. Optional
   • Magnets, Spins and Resonances (Siemens publication)
   • Other SMIS manuals (to be found in the SMIS 3.0 Tesla console room but never taken away!)
   • Other Siemens manuals, especially the Applications Guide (to be found in the Siemens console room but never removed from there!)
   • B. A. Ardekani: SPM Tutorial
   • CABI has also licensed an educational package The Basics of MRI

This page was last updated on 5/5/2003 by Jan Hrabe.